sorry but id have to disagree grim. except for the part with it being extended family. i will never allow that to happen with my family. i dont know how it is for you but for me xmas is like a family reunion. i wont let that tradition die thats why i told all my brothers to fuck off when they wanted to do secret santa. and also when they tried to alternate years so they could go visit with a girlfriends family on xmas instead of ours. i invested my teenage years keeping this family together when our parents got divorced and wont have it be for waste.

Huh? This is not something to agree or disagree on. Every family does what is right for them. My family all live in the same city and see each other frequently. We don't need to exchange meaningless presents to express our love for each other. We didn't want to eliminate it all together, because it IS fun, so the one person thing makes sense FOR US. Plus, everyone buys for the kids. Whatever works for your family is awesome by me.

I've noticed a lot of...um, poorer families do the Secret Santa by means of still giving gifts without having to spend for everyone.

ooookay. I totally get that, but I have no clue what Alishas family's financial situation is, and my family isn't doing it due to money troubles, as I explained above. I'm not sure what your point is.

Surprisingly, I got no games and no garden stuff this year. This is rather odd. I can't remember the last Christmas when I didn't. I'm still happy with what I got, of course.

2 pairs of Eddie Bauer jeans. One corduroy, and one flannel-lined for being outside.super warm Eddie Bauer gloves. Sony ipod dock for when I'm working in the garage or sun room, and don't want to wear headphones. Edgar Allen Poe Collection 2 Two Steps From Hell cds.Doctor Who flap hat and coffee mug(with disappearing Tardis!)$25 movie GC2 pairs of heavy warm socks(I love these)sweater/pull over thingy2 tickets to see some wind instrument group called the Prairie Winds, which I will go to with my wife, of course.

My haul for the year consisted of money, mo' money, a gift card full of fun money (for GameStop), and my Gamecube + games back (and a few extras) from my brother to whom I lent them in the first place (mostly because he got an Xbox 360 for himself). Too bad, I won't be seeing my DSlite back until my Birthday rolls around.

3DS XL with Mario Kart preloaded. Love it.a couple ugly work shirts, a few decent work shirtsold man work shoes.

I was hoping with the 3DS XL, I wouldn't get anything else. I didn't really need nor want any more clothes, but perhaps my hint was too subtle. Other way around, my gift giving was spot on this year. Secret Santa at work and Secret Santa between extended family members both worked out quite well with what I found. Happy about that as I wasn't sure if it would be good or not (esp the one between extended family).

Got Ted and The Dark Knight Rises on blu ray, a couple new shirts, an awesome family guy shirt where the griffins are dressed as justice league members except meg, and a gym bag. Up til now, I've been using an insulated lunch bag to carry a gatorade, my lock, a can of old spice spray, and my dirty sweaty clothes after a workout. Let me tell you...that fucking bag is stanky now, so the nice gym bag was a godsend.

Also got some money, and about 30 dollars in lotto scratch-offs that I won 2 fucking dollars off of. Seriously, my old man bought about 150 bucks in scratchers, and combined between my family members we won about 53 dollars, 42 off one ticket. Waste of money if you ask me, but it makes my sisters happy. So I'm sitting on about 200 bucks now, I think I'm gonna hold it for a bit, maybe start a PS4 fund early.